Bangladesh’s International Crime Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday summoned 20 people, including former army chief Ziaul Ahsan, 10 former ministers and the country’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina ) two consultants. The ICT has directed all those suspected of massacres during the July-August rebellion to appear in court next month.
According to Bangladesh’s interim government, at least 753 people died and thousands were injured during the rebellion, which the ICT prosecution team and the interim government characterized as crimes against humanity and genocide. To date, ICT investigative agencies and prosecutorial teams have filed more than 60 charges of crimes against humanity and genocide against Hasina and her party leaders.
Subpoenas were also sent to 2 advisers to the former Prime Minister
According to the Daily Star, the ICT had directed relevant authorities to summon 20 people on November 18, including 10 former ministers and two advisers to former Prime Minister Hasina.
The order was issued by a three-judge bench of the ITC headed by Justice Golam Murtuza Majumdar on the application of chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam.
The accused include former ministers Farooq Khan, Rashid Khan Menon, Hasanul Haq Innu, Junaid Ahmed Palak, Abdul Razak , Shah Jahan Khan, Kamal Ahmed Majumdar and Ghulam Dastagir Ghazi. According to the Dhaka Tribune, former advisers to former Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina Tawfiq Elahi and Salman F. Rehman, former Army Chief of Staff Ahsan, former Judge Shah The names of Msuddin Chaudhry Manik and former home minister Jahangir Alam were also included.
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Arrest warrants were earlier issued for 45 people
On October 17, the court issued arrest warrants for Hasina, her son Wajid Joy, and 45 others, including several former cabinet members.
Let us tell you that the ICC was established in March 2010 by the Awami League government led by Hasina to prosecute the perpetrators of crimes against humanity during the 1971 liberation war. It later formed the ICT-2 and hanged at least six leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami and Hasina’s rival Khaleda Zia’s BNP based on the verdicts of two courts. The tribunal has been idle since mid-June when its chairman retired.
Also read: Bangladesh court orders submission of Sheikh Hasina murder case report by November 28
Let me tell you that after violent protests triggered by students, the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh Hasina resigned on August 5 and took refuge in India. Afterwards, on August 8, an interim government led by Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus was established. Most recently, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus reconstituted the court on October 12.
